A shocking video of migrants being "disinfected" has emerged from Uttar Pradesh on a day the Supreme Court took up a petition seeking relief for the thousands walking to their home states amid the 21-day lockdown. The video was filmed in Bareilly district - about 270 km from Lucknow. The batch of migrants in the video had returned to UP over the weekend after special buses were arranged for them. Among those watching the "disinfecting" are some policemen.
After the clip led to criticism of the district administration, an official said: "The migrants were sprayed with a mix of chlorine and water... No chemical solution was used. We asked them to keep their eyes shut." He added: "We did not mean to be inhuman... It was important to sanitise everyone and there was a huge rush as large number of people had returned. So we did what we thought was best."
The clip was investigated, Bareilly District Magistrate said in a tweet. "Under Chief Minister's Office's supervision, those affected are being treated. The civic body and fire brigade team were asked to sanitise buses... but they did this because they were overzealous. Action has been initiated against officials concerned," he wrote. Opposition leaders have attacked the district administration over the clip, calling the action "inhuman". In a series of tweets, former UP chief minister and BSP chief Mayawati wrote: "During this stringent nationwide lockdown, numerous pictures have emerged of injustice from across the country... but spraying of disinfectants on migrants in Bareilly is an example of sheer cruelty, injustice. The government should pay attention immediately."